Forty The Fortune Teller, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Philomel, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages

"Basketball was so distracted 
with his nasty poo-poo foot 
that Forty and Chip were able 
to escape and continue toward 
the slide. 

Just then, it started to rain. 
Forty and Chip were in 
danger of getting soggy. 

Desperate and willing to try 
anything, Forty looked up 
at the dark gray rain cloud 
overhead."

Chelsea loves to make fortune tellers ... the subject of this new book from Drew Daywalt and Kevin Cornell. The endpapers get readers right down to business by providing step-by-step instructions on how to make a fortune teller from start to finish. Making one (or more) is sure to take up time on an 'I don't know what to do' summer day. At the end of the book, Mr. Cornell includes instructions for making your own Chip as well, and maybe a gum wad, or a basketball,

This is story is written about one particular fortune teller named Forty, and her friend Chip. Forty and Chip are two casualties of playground activities. Forty is dropped as the child who made her rushes into school when the bell rings. Chip is but one potato chip left from a throwaway bag, with a bite taken out of his head.

A search for other casualties leads them to discover a red bolt needed to ensure safety for the slide ladder. They have to get that slide fixed before someone gets hurt at recess. As they make their way across the playground to get to work, a huge squirrel scoops up Chip as a snack. A distraction is needed! Forty bamboozles the squirrel with a very funny fortune, and its hilarious result. From there, the two are on to new adventures with a basketball and a raincloud, before the kids are released for play and someone gets hurt. Who knew that gumwads attached to the underside of the slide would keep Forty and Chip from being on their slide? Maybe another fortune will work? 

You will have to read the ending to see what happens next! I will let you know what Chelsea thinks when I read it to her in July!                                                                                   

Taking Flight, written by Kashmira Sheth and illustrated by Nicolo Carozzi. Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 5 and up

"Still, you gather up your courage, 
that first day of school. 
Lifting your chin, 
you step through the door. 

Instantly, many heads turn toward you, 
their eyes seem to study you. 
Your stomach stirs, 
palms grow cold, 
knees turn mushy."

What a heartwarming, and yet also heartbreaking, way to show readers the reality of the refugee experience for many. Three young children are introduced, and their journeys to safety in faraway lands portrayed in exceptional digital artwork created using graphite. The first leaves a grandmother in a Tibetan highland home. The second leaves a cozy Syrian home surrounded by cotton fields, following many others who are doing the same. The third escapes a beloved Ukrainian city in the wake of bombing that is leaving it in ruins. 

"No matter where you started, 
leaving was hard - so was that journey. 
And you finally reached safety, 
you were hungry, thirsty, worn-out.
Ready for rest."

That rest came first in a refugee camp. Then, travel to a new land happened on a plane, a boat, and a bus. All the while, hearts were filled with hope for a better life in a strange new place. It was all so different - language, noise, everything unfamiliar, school, food. Still, there are those who know what to say, what to do, how to help make things better - a friend or friends. 

"Day by day, little by little, 
as the new becomes known, 
you meet other children just like you."

The telling is so quiet and meaningful for readers, allowing a chance to develop empathy and compassion for the children they are meeting. The illustrations perfectly match the story's tone, offering readers the opportunity to sense the fear, and feel the emotions of each refugee child. There is such joy in the welcome they experience because of the children they meet who show interest, kindness, and patience. That is what most kids do, when given the chance.                                                                                        

 

Navigating Night, written by Julie Leung and illustrated by Angie Kang. anne schwartz books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 7 and up

 

"A girl appears next to the man. 
She looks about my age. 
Her eyes are full of questions. 

I put the soda on the ground. 
When she gives me a little wave,
I look away. 
I wish the night would hide my face."

A young girl and her Baba are tasked with delivering takeout food from their Chinese restaurant to customers who have placed orders with them. It is a dark and rainy night. She is hungry, but the deliveries are most important. Her father drives, she navigates with a map and a notebook containing their destinations. She is ever helpful; with each delivery, the child helps her father with translation. Praise for being a good kid does not make her feel better. She would rather just be normal. 

While they go from house to house, she is aware that other families are home and together. She tells Baba that she does not want to go on deliveries anymore. Her baba asks for the next stop. The darkness outside and inside the car, inspires Baba to tell a story from his childhood when neighbors turned on one another and forced his family to flee to a safer and better life.

Although Baba was the youngest in his family, he knew that he could adapt and find his way in a new home. As they travel from house to house, he continues to share his memories. A delivery to a new customer has them lost, driving back and forth while worrying that the food is getting cold. They finally see an angry woman standing beside a mailbox that cannot be read. No wonder they had difficulty finding it.  

Baba continues to share his memories about the early days in a new home, and the difficulties he faced when he didn't understand the language.

"Before I had you,
I would get so lost, he says."

As the rain outside the van windows subsides and the moon rises into a less cloudy sky, the two finish their deliveries. The child guides them back to the restaurant where the family waits to share dinner together.

This moving family story is brilliantly told; the artwork, created using gouache, crayon, colored pencil, and pastel, offers a perfect backdrop for the emotions, memories, and shared deliveries the two make throughout the evening. Poignant and telling notes from both author and illustrator about its origins are much appreciated.  
                                                                                 

Angelica and the Bear Prince, written and illustrated by Trung Le Nguyen. RH Graphic, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.50 ages 12 and up

 

"Well, you look nice. 
Doing anything special?

No! Not at all. 
Just taking a day to myself, 
gonna explore the festival.

Cool! I'll come with you.

No, I wanna walk around 
by myself, take some alone time. 
Maybe later. 

Oh. Well, I'll be around if 
you need me. Have fun. 

Wait, you seem a little 
bummed. What's wrong?"

Angelica (whose nickname is Jelly) is beyond enthusiastic to begin an internship at her local Log House Theater. She saw her first production of the Bear Prince at a young age, and looks forward to playing a role in what happens in the new one. She is particularly interested in the masked actor who plays the Bear Prince. The two begin, via DM, communicating with each other and their relationship grows. 

Mr. Nguyen is adept at managing the present time with flashbacks to a time in Jelly's early childhood when she first saw the Bear Prince story. Her family is dealing with persistent grief at the loss of Jelly's beloved grandmother; this grief has an impact on Jelly and the story being told. Jelly wants to prove that she is capable of everything expected of her, while also managing the new relationship with a growing interest in someone she doesn't really know. 

Each scene is created to expand on the characters the author introduces to his readers. They are all unique and likable as they deal with the reality of their circumstances. From an initial note of thanks to Per, the conversations become more open and sensitive to the feelings of the other. The emotions are realistically presented and their mutual respect allows for a healthy back-and-forth. Energetic artwork conveys the tone of the full story while providing many expressive and lovely details to make the storytelling even better. The frames used to show flashbacks, memories and past experiences allow readers the connections they need for the storytelling. 

This is a terrific heartfelt tale with memorable characters that gives a nod to the folktale tradition, and explores meaningful issues of community, grief, family, and friendship. I'm saving it for Sicily to read when she is here this summer. 

My Sister The Apple Tree: A Refugee Story of Hope and Resilience, written by Jordan Scott and Jamal Saeed with artrwork by Zahra Marwan. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"One day, I saw helicopters in the sky.
They bombed our village. We saw dust, 
and there was fire in the woods. The wind
turned into a machine." 

After watching twin goats frolicking together on village streets, a young boy asks why his mother wh they didn't have twins so that he, too, would have a constant companion. His mother tells him they planted an apple tree in the yard on the day he was born.

"You and the tree are twins. The apple 
tree is your sister."

From that day forward, he found solace with his sister. He spent time sitting with her, telling her about his surroundings, offering care and comfort. He brought her a blanket at night and slept with is window open so she would always feel his presence. They played together, and grew together, and when war came to their county and forced the family to move, they uprooted the tree and carried it with them to a new country. 

In their new country, he made a place for his sister. There, she grew taller, made friends with the sky, and welcomed new birds to her branches. His sister provided a listening ear for his stories, his worries, the longing for the life left behind. Together, they adapt and adjust to what is new and different. 

In an afterword, all three creators share their family stories of leaving their home countries for a new life, due to varying circumstances. Those stories shine through in the words and images created for their collaboration. Their story has warmth, emotion, hope, and resilience in the face of great difficulty.                                                                             

 

Just Keep Going, written by Lynn Smith and illustrated by Lauren Gallegos. soourcebooks/jabberwocky, Raincoast. 2025. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Sometimes Mouse doesn't get what he 
wants and he's frustrated. 

"Did you know you think better when 
you stop what you're doing, pause, and 
breathe?" Butterfly asks."

Like most children and their parents, Mouse has big feelings. They run the gamut of many of those things felt while living life. When Mouse is scared, he gets helpful advice from his friend Rabbit. As suggested by Rabbit, they jump up and down together. In puddles and out, toward the clouds and back. As they jump together, Mouse forgets to be as scared as he was. Rabbit offers one more tidbit of advice: 

"Just keep going." 

Mouse takes that advice and moves on. Big feelings cause stress for Mouse. Noticing his worried face, Bird wonders if a hug might help. A few squeezes in soft wings that provide comfort, Mouse feels his worry wash away. His trip through the forest has him meeting Deer when he is wishing for courage; Butterfly when he is irritated; and Owl when he needs help deciding what he really wants. Owl suggests creating a picture in his mind as they sit together to think. Each of his friends help his face his feelings and suggest that Mouse should 'just keep going'. 

Friendly, warm, energetic illustrations add to the appeal of seeking help from friends when help is needed. Children and their parents can all use a little help these days when dealing with the big feelings facing them. A reminder that there are things that can be done to make it better might be just what is needed. One step at a time ... just keep going. 

How To Say Goodbye in Cuban, written by Daniel Miyares. Anne Schwartz Books, Penguin Random House. 2025. $29.99 ages 10 and up

"Tomorrow turned into next week.
And next week into next month. 

Math was still tedious, but I discovered
that I liked to draw - 

and wasn't half bad at it, either. My teacher
said I had a good "visual memory". I think 
that meant I could hold pictures in my 
head and put them down on paper later." 

Daniel Miyares looks back into his family's history to describe how his father's life is changed immeasurably by the Cuban Revolution. In 1956 Carlos is 12 and living near Matanzas, Cuba in the peaceful countryside. His family lives on the same street as his aunt and his grandparents. He is living a fairly boring life there. It won't be long until Fidel Castro and a small band of exiles return to their homeland in an attempt to overthrow Batista. 

Although boring for a young boy, the family lives a life that is filled with affection. When his father wins the lottery, the family moves to the city where he can build a woodshop and make furniture for others. It is a big change for Carlos, whose love of nature and being outdoors is now non-existent. Called names at school for coming from the country is only a small problem once Castro comes to power. Filled with fear as his father's business is taken over by government forces and neighbors turn on neighbors, rumors fuel the worries of his family. When his father disappears, the family holds onto hope that things will get better. Many months later Papi returns home to tell them he has been making plans to take them to America and safety. 

Full of suspense and a family's resilience, this story is told brilliantly in words and graphic images that offer a clear look at the beauty of the Cuban setting, while also allowing readers to feel the fear, uncertainty, and pain that change can bring. Using single page entries to between segments of Carlo's story maintains the awareness of government upheaval as it affects the people living in Cuba at that time. 

The House That Floated, by Guoing. Randon House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"When a powerful storm rages and giant 
waves engulf the cliff, the family realizes
their home is in danger ... 
and they must act quickly to save it."

Here is another poignant wordless picture book that introduces readers to a little red house on a high cliff above a vast ocean. It offers an idyllic life in the peace and beauty of its surroundings for the young couple who live there. They spend their days fishing; it happens that on one such day they release a dolphin trapped in a fishing net. Once freed, they watch as it relishes the freedom the couple has provided. 

A carving of the saved dolphin finds pride of place on a shelf that holds other mementos of their life. They soon welcome a child, and their lives become even more fulfilled. The child grows and prospers. Life is good. Their boat trips on the water that surrounds them are filled with all the beauty of nature and its marine inhabitants. When a pod of dolphins swims nearby (and one shows a particular interest), they are full of wonder. 

Time passes and the world around them changes. The waters rise until they threaten the family's safety. Knowing they must do something dramatic, they work to find a way to remove their house from the cliff. With ingenuity, patience and hard work, they manage to fashion a pole raft to be towed behind their boat to a safer place. Lead across the water by the dolphins and guided by a lighthouse beam, they are helped ashore using needed equipment and with plenty of professional help. 

This family story clearly shows how daily life and the changes that happen help create a place to call home. As she has done in previous books, Guojing uses a limited palette to capture the emotions felt as the family takes in all the seasonal and yearly changes, and the heartbreak that comes when having to make a dramatic and unimaginable change.  It fires the imagination and evokes clear thoughts about the family's way of life, and what home means.               
                                                                              

The Sky Was My Blanket, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2025. $26.99 ages 10 and up

"I was luckier. I found work making leather bags, 
thanks to the trade I had learned in Vienna. 
Because I had work, I was able to live in Paris 
for the next year or so. I worked and I drank
wine, cheap wine, with my meals. 

Refugees who had escaped Nazi Germany kept
arriving in Paris. They spoke of the campaign
of violence and terror, of people living in fear.
I never forgot the stories I heard." 

As he did in his own memoir, Chance: Escape from the Holocaust (2020), Uri Shulevitz here tells a story of his Uncle Yehiel's life in the years before WWII. Born in Poland and very unhappy with the harshness of his Jewish upbringing, Yehiel left home at 15 in search of adventure. He found work in Austria with a leather worker, learning a trade that would be useful later in his life. 

As the Nazi party rose in power and wreaked havoc with European politics, he made the decision to leave. His travels took him to many places as he looked for work and safety. Quick thinking, kind strangers and some great good luck ensured his survival. He settled in Spain, which led to fighting in the Spanish Civil War and enduring many hardships. Later he worked with the Jewish resistance in France. Each new experience, though often trying, also helped Yehiel discover himself while learning to live on his own. Eventually, he changed his name to Henri Sulewic, married, and spent his later years painting pictures of the Jewish community where he was born.  

Uri Shulevitz, in his final work published following his death, allows readers a close look at history from the perspective of a very young man. He is deeply affected by his experiences, and has his own impact as he pursues the adventure his heart demands. Family photos add to the reality of the story told, as well as black-and-white drawings that add dimension to the people and places mentioned. It is both heartbreaking and uplifting to read this first-person powerful narrative. An afterword concludes and includes copies of Yehiel's art. 

The Littlest Drop, written by Sascha Alper and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney. Anne Schwartz Books, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The animals fled to the river and stood by
the safety of its bank, too scared to move. 
All except the hummingbird. 

She thought of her home in the tall tree, of the soft, 
strong nest beneath her, and of her eggs that would 
soon be coming. And she knew that she had to do 
something."

The savannah is home to all of the animals from largest to smallest. Counted among the smallest is the hummingbird. This tiny hummingbird is busy building a nest for her to soon-to-be-laid eggs. She knows it needs be soft enough for her vulnerable hatchlings, and strong enough to protect them. Upon completion of the nest, she watches a very small spark land on a leaf nearby. 

That spark causes a quick-growing fire that soon threatens all animals. Terrified, they flee to the river and remain there, too frightened to take action. The hummingbird knows she must do something. So, she begins ... one tiny beak filled with the droplet of water she can carry. Back and forth she flies, time and again, to do what she can to keep her home safe. The animals mock her and her size, reminding her that she is incapable of making any difference. 

"I'm doing what I can."

Grandmother elephant is first to see the folly in their thinking. Only if everyone works together will they be able to effect change. The two work together, until others recognize that they, too, can help. Every animal plays a role. The fire rages on. While tired, they give each other the strength to carry on. 

"Then, as the sun rose above the treetops and the
exhausted hummingbird thought she could fly no
further, she let one last drop fall ... 

and the fire was gone."

In an author's note for her picture book debut, Ms. Alper tells readers this is a tale from the Quechua people of South America, and she heard it first from Wangari Maathai, a noted environmentalist from Kenya. The artwork for the book was to be done by Jerry Pinkney. It was almost completed when he died; in an illustrator's note, his son Brian explains his process in completing the book. The stunning acrylic and India ink images bring readers onto the savannah and into the heat of the fire. This is a new favorite for me, and I will look forward to sharing it. 
                                                                                   

 

iMistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas. Written and illustrated by Eliza Kinkz. Kokila, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

"Izzy just wanted to hide. 

Because hiding from your mistakes 
ALWAYS works. 

Oh no ... Fridays meant making tortillas. 
Lito LOVED tortillas! 

He loved them so much that he couldn't see 
that making tortillas was the last thing 
Izzy wanted to do.

She tried, but a LOT can go wrong 
when making tortillas." 

Izzy considers herself the President of MISTAKES. She sets out to prove it to readers while reflecting on the many she has made in her life. There are almost too many to remember. While others can see the humor in some, Izzy is having none of that. So, on a day when she made a colossal mistake while at school with a pudding cup, she has no intention of telling anyone. 

Even though it is tortilla night with her grandparents, Izzy does not want to be seen or heard. She prefers hiding, which doesn't last long. Her grandparents love having her help when they are making tortillas. It does not go well. First, she sneezes dough all over her Lita's face; then, in trying to roll out the tortillas, she makes mistake after mistake until one gets stuck on the rolling pin. By the time she has shaken it off, it is all over her face! 

Her astute grandfather recognizes there is more to her sadness, and asks what is wrong. It's all Izzy needs to offer the truth. A series of mishaps has resulted in everyone at school calling her Chicken Lickin' Puddin' Pickin'! Izzy is traumatized and her grandfather knows just what to do. He will eat every one of her mistakes. If Izzy will share again, he will make a taco out of each mistake and eat them. He proceeds to do exactly as planned. 

As Izzy's tension eases, she makes her own unusual taco and comes up with a new idea for naming them. They will call them mistacos! Lito loves the idea and soon family members are regaling all gathered with their own mistakes, making everyone happy. When it's time to go home, and Izzy steps in it again. Oh, well! Lita is there with a bag of warm mistacos for Izzy to take to school come Monday. 

Filled with some angst, endless love, a great deal of laughter and support, and a thoughtful solution to what seems an insurmountable problem, it's clear for readers that everyone makes mistakes. The cartoon images are filled with the energy of a warm and loving family. Chaos seems to be their middle name! Their use of Spanglish as they work together to make things better is explained in back matter, along with directions for making your own mistaco. 

One Day: A True Story of Survival in the Holocaust. Written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Benjamin Phillips. Candlewick Studio. Penguin Random House, 2025. $24.99 ages 8 and up

"We were in this camp for two months, breaking stones.
I was just skin and bone. 

Get through one day and then on to the next.
One day at a time. One day after another.

Then we were transferred to a camp at Drancy.
This was a new housing complex that been turned into
a prison camp for Jews." 

When Michael Rosen discovered that his father's uncle and aunt were on the same convoy as Eugene and Oscar Handschuh, he was inspired to tell their true story of survival. In first person narrative, he introduces the father and son who, as Hungarian Jews, were living in Paris and working in the Resistance against the Nazis. 

They had done all they could to protect themselves with false papers. While trying to get new ones, they were discovered and their lives changed. It was December 28, 1942. They were interrogated, treated poorly, and forced into a work camp. They lived their lives from then on one day at a time, never knowing what might happen next. Next, they were sent to a prison camp and worried so much about being deported that they hatched a plan to dig themselves out. When the entrance to the tunnel was discovered, the Nazis gathered needed information from one of the men who worked on it. 

Names were named, and deportation became the punishment. Eugene and Oscar were placed on Convoy 62 with twelve hundred other Jews. They knew nothing about the Holocaust, only that something bad was happening. They had prepared to find a way out, carrying hidden tools with them. Nineteen prisoners escaped, including the father and son. Two made it to Paris, while the father found a place to hide at a farm close by. When safe, he was taken to Paris where he was reunited with his son. Never had hugs been so tight. Still, they didn't know that the train was headed to Auschwitz, or what would happen there. Eugene and his father Oscar survived, Michael Rosen's relatives did not. 

The book ends with hope for father and son. Never does it fail to remember the horror of what happened to so many others. 

"What happened to the twelve hundred people on that train? 
 There were nineteen of us who jumped
on that one day. 

The rest went to Auschwitz. 
Only twenty-nine came back. 

And that's a true story."

Somber colors, created using ink, charcoal and pencil, echo the real sadness for those who endured the horrors of the Holocaust. The repeated "one day" is a reminder to all of the uncertainty of life and the need to be brave and resilient. It introduces the topic to a younger audience in a way that is both solemn and safe, yet informative about a terrible time in the world's history.  It should be shared, then read again to understand the truth of what happened to so many. Much is left unsaid, as it should be for this audience; yet, it balances truth, hope and despair in the most sensitive way. 

                                                                                       

https://youtu.be/gYWMiov0BHM?si=qv1Zb86zGP0u2mH3

Brave, written and illustrated by Weshoyut Alvitre. Kokila, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"My dad is so proud to teach us our 
traditional ways: to let our hair grow 
long, to stand up for what we believe 
in, and to be brave. 

But when I get teased at school, my 
mom is the one who has to speak with
the teachers about our traditions. 
My dad becomes so angry about it, 
he loses his words."

A braid is at the heart of this story. A young Indigenous boy starts out unhappy about the daily horror of having his hair braided by his mother. The tugging and the knots hurt. He endures the hurt because the braid holds such importance for him; it gives him strength. He badly wants hair like his father who explains the cultural traditions of his people. 

The boy finds himself admiring the dancers at powwows, and longs for the day when he can be like them. Starting school with his braid is not easy; he is taunted and teased by others. His determination helps him stay strong and brave in the face of their mistreatment. Sometimes, it makes him hurt and angry. That behavior leads to his father sharing stories from his younger days, and the fact that he was forced to have his hair cut. It wasn't until he was older that he wore a braid again; he had to teach himself to be brave always. 

"Be the bravest person 
you can be. Your ancestors'
strength is inside you."

His father's stories also include remembrances of his ancestors, and the rules they were forced to follow. Their stories are sad, full of fear and acceptance for things they could not change. The boy's father honors a promise he made when his son was born: to never cut his hair unless it was the boy's decision. 

""You are the newest brave one in the generations 
of brave men and women who have tried their best 
to stand up for the things they believe in," he tells me."

The author's memorable images are created using gouache, watercolor, and ink. The rich colors and careful depictions of traditional life, both past and present, connect the boy to his history and encourage readers to think deeply. 

The Eidi Bag, written by Shazia Afzal and illustrated by Shiva Delsooz. Owlkids, 2025. $22.95 ages 4 and up

 

"Today is a big day. It's Sarah's first Eid in her 
new country. She plans to spend the day with 
family and friends - and collect LOTS of Eidi 
money! Then she'll buy candy to share with 
her best friend, Jessica, something nice for 
Dada ji, flowers for Mama, and a set of 
markers so she can draw with her baba." 

Ramadan began on Friday, February 28 this year and will encompass a full month of fasting for Muslims around the world. That fasting lasts each day from dawn until sunset; during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything during daylight hours. 

Sarah is celebrating Eid in a new country, after the family's move from Pakistan. She and her Mama wish each other Eid Mubarak early in the morning. Sarah extends her Eidi bag toward her mother, who hands her coins. Mama reminds Sarah that asking for Eidi is impolite; she must wait for others to offer it to the young girl. Baba is asked, as is Dada ji, as they enter the kitchen. Both offer money for her small bag. 

To say Sarah is excited is an understatement. She is keen to collect her Eidi money and then use it for giving to others. At the celebration, Sarah shares the many wonderful traditions of her family and friends. Showing her Eidi bag to her aunt results in a compliment, but no coins. The same happens with her uncle who is busy saying hello to their guests. Her neighbor Salma reacts in the same way. 

It is humbling and sad to learn that traditions in her new home are not the same as they were in Pakistan. As the day passes, Sarah learns that guests will be arriving later than they usually do. It is not an open house all day long. As the guests arrive, they bring food, candies, a plant, flowers, and a gift of markers from Sana Khala. Though her Eidi money bag is not full, Sarah has much more than she ever expected ... including a new use for her bag. 

An author's note explains for readers Eid ul-Fitr and the customs that take place during that time. She also includes a welcome glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. Ms. Delsooz fills the book's spreads with bright colors and interesting details to help young readers understand the celebration. 

Veena and the Red Roti: A Story of Hope During Partition. Written by Namita Moolani Mehra and illustrated by Beena Mistry. Kids Can Press, 2024. $21.99 ages 4 and up

 

"By late afternoon, they arrived at a camp -
a dreary row of former army barracks, now 
a place for migrant families to shelter. 
Veena rolled down her sleeves to cover her 
bangles. They didn't belong in this dusty chaos."

Veena loves the kitchen. It is where the women in her life cook and chat. Veena watches these beloved women as they make their roti; as she does, she is learning how to make her own. Much practice results in tasty bread. All around her, people talk and play, gossip, and bring life to her home. 

When word breaks about a NEW India, there is much talk about how their home country will change. Wanting to be free from British rule, India faces partition. Their country becomes India and Pakistan - two countries now, divided by religion. 

There is great fear for Veena's community; her family decides to leave immediately. Soon, a train carries them to a refugee camp, where they long to find the food and rest they need. The roti shared tastes nothing like the roti she is accustomed to eating. Life changes immeasurably. 

"Some nights when Veena closed her eyes, the 
murmurs of the little ones and soothing chatter
of mothers reminded her of home. 
But they had no home."

Life in the refugee camp is so sad. It leads Veena to the camp kitchen where she offers to help. When asked what she can do, she suggests making perfect roti! The ingredients are nothing like what she had at home; Veena makes the best of it! While still longing for home, being in the kitchen makes her (and the rest of the women) feel better to be doing something they love for others. After her Baba finds a job, the family leaves the camp for a new home in Delhi - a place where Veena can make as much roti as she wants to make. 

I have never read a book for children about partition. There may be others. It is important for them to learn history through books that put readers at the center of the action. By seeing what happens to Veena and her family, they come to empathize and understand a dark and difficult chapter in her life through the eyes of a child their age. 

Back matter includes a glossary of terms not likely familiar to young readers, an author's note about her grandparents and their journey in 1947 during The Partition, historical context for what happened, and a map to show how the country was divided.

The Outsmarters, written by Deborah Ellis. Groundwood, 2024. $18.99 ages 9 and up

"When I get into bed, the questions come tumbling 
back into my brain. 
Was it wrong of me to butt in at the party? Is it right
that I did, since the birthday girl seemed so miserable?
Should I mind my own business, or is it my business 
to mind? 
The more I think, the more I'm not sure. 
That's the trouble with thinking. Once you get 
started, it's damn hard to stop."

Deborah Ellis is one remarkable storyteller. In her new book, she introduces middle-grade readers to 12-year-old Kate Gray and those who people her life ... past and present. Kate's first-person voice is a perfect instrument for creating this unforgettable story. For three years Kate has lived with her maternal grandmother, who owns and operates Junk Yard, and is a sharp-tongued, opinionated woman. Kate's behavioral issues in middle school have resulted in her suspension from that school; the underlying reasons are made apparent to readers as the story progresses. 

Gran is not easy to live with. As they spend time together, Kate often wonders about her mom and where she is. Gran refuses to talk about her daughter, wanting Kate to leave things as they are. Kate's memories of her life before coming to live with Gran concern substance use, abusive boyfriends and abandonment. Living with her mother was wrought with traumatic episodes. The promise that things would get better was always there, and never happened. Gran is a strict caregiver. She expects Kate to abide by her rules at every turn. While Kate waits for the counselling she needs, she finds a way to spend her time by fixing up a shed on their property and offering 'Philosophic Help' to anyone willing to pay $2.00 for Kate's answers to their questions. 

Surprised at her own success, and making unlikely friends along the way, Kate finds some solace as days pass. Problems arise, not unexpectedly. The time comes to return to school, a place that holds no joy for Kate. While doing business with community people, she discovers the truth about her father and his family, and the secrets her grandmother has been keeping about her mother and Kate's early life. When her mother does show up, things are nothing like what Kate had imagined when she considered their reunion.  

There is much to unpack here. There were many times when I wanted to stop and add another quote. Ms. Ellis's storytelling is impactful as we have come to expect from this incomparable writer. Kate's story is heartbreaking, hopeful, and leaves readers with memorable characters who know exactly how to outsmart, rather than outmean. It is a remarkable read. Please find a copy, and read it for yourself. 

At the End of the Day, written by Lisl H. Detlefsen and illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2024. $26.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Sometimes an effort to make the day better 
just makes things worse. 

Like when a flower picked to cheer someone up 
turns into a big mess. 

Or an especially tricky puzzle is - finally! - finished. 
But the very last piece is missing."

As readers watch two children descend the bus steps and head for home, they can see their little sister is howling. Tired comes to all of us. A return from school often means starting homework as soon as you're in the door. Or there is piano practice or a dance lesson. Maybe there is no opportunity to get outside to blow off some steam ... too cold, too rainy, too much! There might be chores to do, or accidents to clean up. The difficulties can be endless, and are cleverly shared here in quick succession.  

On the other hand, there are also seemingly minor happenings that can turn the day around and make it much sweeter: a firefly on an evening walk, a good joke, the smell of fresh bread, a kiss from a puppy, and a bike ride with Dad through the crunchiness of fall leaves. 

The best thing of all for this busy family is the surprise return of their military mama and the chance to share all their bedtime rituals with her. Cozy pajamas and a moonlit night, followed by 'good-night kisses and big bear hugs'. What could be better than everyone together on the big bed, asleep before the story is over? 

Digital illustrations put the focus on the three children, their feelings, and expressions as the day comes to a satisfying end. 

What Lolo Wants, written by Cristina Oxtura and illustrated by Jamie Bauza. Kids Can Press, 2024. $23.99 ages

"He no longer drew Lola frying sweet plantains, the
sampaguita blooming in the garden or the maya birds
perched in the large guava tree. 

Then Lolo started to forget names."

Maria and Lolo dearly love each other; they also love to draw together. When dinner is done every evening, the two sit together and Lolo has a question for his granddaughter. 

"What shall we draw tonight, Maria?"

Lolo is an artist, and he sketches whatever Maria suggests. It can be Lola frying plantains, sampaguita blooms, or the maya birds in the guava tree. Maria is enchanted by his talent and his willingness to create such beauty at her request. They even play a guessing game where Lolo draws whatever he likes, and Maria guesses what it is. Maria tries her best to copy his ideas. 

A change happens as time goes on. Lolo isn't well, and spends a lot of time in bed. He promises to draw again when he feels better. It is a long wait for the young girl. When Lolo begins forgetting names and asking questions about himself, Maria is sad. She is sadder still when he forgets who she is. He loses his words, unable to answer simple questions. It makes Lolo sad, too. 

Maria thinks she can help, by bringing food to Lolo and asking if he might like it for dinner. Nothing tempts him. After careful thought, she suggests that Lolo draw what he would like to have. It works like a charm. While Lola prepares the pancit Lolo is hungry for, Maria gets right to work on another idea that might help her beloved grandfather. It is the perfect solution! 

A heartwarming story, with inviting artwork drawn using watercolor, marker, pencil and crayon, that speaks to changes that happen in families and ideas to help weather them. Set in the Philippines, it shows everyday life for this close-knit family and the lengths they will go to in order to make things better. 

Shizue's Path, written by Mark Sakamoto and illustrated by Rachel Wada. Harper, 2023. $24.99 ages 5 and up

"I wish I could skip this chapter of the story, darling. 
just as you may want to skip parts of your own life 
story in time. But you see, you mustn't do that. 
You need to know your darkness to know your light. 

And I can see so much light in you. 

So I'll keep going through the dark. 

But I'd love for you to hold my hand."

Shizue is an old woman when she tells her story to a young visitor over a cup of tea. Because of her age, she must start as her life comes closer to the end. It is a story of pain and injustice; it also speaks to the courage and resilience of people who were wronged by many. There are things from her life that are not clear memories for Shizue. Others are very real and clear.

As a young child she loved school, but she did not look the same as the other children in her class. She worried about her father, a fisherman, and his safety. She worried even more when her parents' homeland, Japan, attacked Pearl Harbor and brought World War II across the ocean. She would rather not share this dark time in her life, but is part of her story. 

The anti-Asian backlash was puzzling to Shizue. No more school, forced from their homes, and sent on a train to a faraway place. The conditions were terrible; too cold, too hot, and there was no choice but to carry on. It was two years before Shizue could attend school again. Then, one day, the war ended and the people rejoiced. They did not know what was next for the Japanese people. 

"The government was planning to send me - and 
every person of Japanese ancestry - to Japan. They 
wanted all of us, gone."

What terror for a young girl! Then, good news. Shizue was invited to study at the University of Toronto. There was so much to learn and see, including hearing Rabbi Feinberg speak at a rally demanding compassion for those people who had no part in the war. It led to Shizue's life work helping people (including her family) find a place to heal. She exuded kindness wherever she went. 

It is a story that draws inspiration from Mark Sakamoto's great-aunt's life experiences and offers readers a sensitive look at how one person can send out ripples of kindness throughout that life.  

A Garden Called Home, written by Jessica J. Lee and illustrated by Elaine Chen. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 5 and up

"Mama doesn't like winter. She spends the whole 
season wrapped up in big quilted jackets, making 
steaming pots of congee and taking care of her 
houseplants. She never wants to go outside."

A mother and her young daughter cannot seem to agree about the weather. With winter's approach, Mama stops smiling and starts bundling up to keep her warm through the colder weather. Her daughter loves catching snowflakes and seeing the beauty in the outside world. 

Mama was born 'where summers there are hot and humid, and the winters are filled with warm rain'. 
Quite the contrast, indeed. The child has never seen her mother's homeland; this winter will change that. The two are going to make a trip to visit Mama's sister. No winter coat will be needed. A long flight later, the two deplane into air that causes hair to frizz and t-shirts to stick. 

As they make the trip to her auntie's house, the child gets a chance to take in the scenery and notice the lack of snow despite the season. There is so much to see as they spend time with family visiting all the happy places that were once Mama's home. At Uncle's farm, the two take note of the many vegetables that Mama ate as a child. Too soon, it is time to return to their home. The families share sad goodbyes. 

"Back home, Mama waters her houseplants. She wears 
big quilted jackets but never goes outside." 

Her daughter spends her days learning about plants, and keeping track of the trees, pine cones, birds and everything else she can see in her visits to the forest. Her excitement is apparent when she invites her mother to join her on a winter walk; she will be happy to teach her all she has been learning. She wants her to know there is beauty in her new home, too. 

In the spring, the two plant a garden that includes some of the things her mama has always loved to eat; there are also local flowers to grow and name. 

"Together, we are growing a 
garden that feels like home."

Such joy to be found in both places! A glossary helps with unfamiliar words, and is accompanied by a glimpse of their garden as it grows.